ABOUT PRISON DISCIPLESHIP
Founded in 1983 by Steve Bradshaw, current chaplain of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and incorporated as a non-profit organization in the state of Oklahoma, Prison Discipleship works in prisons and jails across Oklahoma and surrounding states to reach and build disciples in the Christian faith. Steve Bradshaw created this ministry to be able to invest in the lives of both male and female inmates in prisons and jails and to provide them with regular counseling and spiritual training, as well as the opportunity to meet physical needs of the families of prisoners. “We are expanding our work to a national outreach through the net by enlisting volunteers to be trained as volunteer chaplains to reach the prisoners in their area. Our goal is to enlist 1,000 men and women for this important work.”
Steve and fellow Prison Discipleship staff members minister in 30 Oklahoma jails and prisons every week, sharing the Gospel with inmates and training them to lead their fellow inmates to Christ, as well.
““I found Christ in prison, developed a real relationship with Him. By the Lord’s help, I’ve been drug free for 10 years. Jesus has used me to help lead several to Christ in prison. I’ve helped those on their death bed to have peace with God. Steve’s teaching is a big help!” ”
here are the facts
Oklahoma is the 2nd leading state with the highest incarceration rate in all of the United States
7 out of 10 children who have a parent who is incarcerated end up in incarceration themselves
The state of Oklahoma spends over $15,000 for food, clothing, and housing on just one prisoner per year
Between 2005-2018, 44% of released prisoners were re-arrested during the first year following release, an additional 24% of released inmates were arrested by 2018
Oklahoma state prisons are at 112% capacity
8 out of 10 released unsaved inmates returns to prison within 36 months after parole
9 out of 10 saved inmates stay out of prison and are restored to society
Each year that an inmate remains out of prison, the state saves $14.8 million as a result of the Prison Discipleship ministry
